PirateQ 
Dr. Ed Meadows
The 2024 Leadership Pensacola class recently received a crash course on education – from preschool to postsecondary.
Hosted by Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida, the 50 representatives of Northwest Florida businesses spent Education Day 2024 (March 7) learning about early learning, workforce education and higher education.
The day began with Early Learning panelists Donte Sheppard, Studer Community Institute’s Early Learning Program Manager; Kari Lindemann, ReadyKids! Program Manager; and Ruthie Noel, Achieve Escambia Executive Director.
Workforce Education panelists included Steve Harrell, Escambia County School District Workforce Education Department Director; Michael Listau, PSC Dean of Workforce Education; Sherry Hartnett, UWF Head of Workforce Development; and Matt Stanfill, Navy Federal Credit Union Instructional Designer and former PSC professor.
Higher Education panelists were Madeline Heller, PSC Assistant Dean of Academic and Student Affairs; Lauren Loeffler, UWF Assistant Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Divisional Advancement; Kirk Bradley, PSC Dean of Baccalaureate Studies; Ed Meadows, PSC President; and Stanfill.
Education Day began in PSC’s Bear Jones Moore and Reeves Center for Math and Advanced Technology on the Pensacola campus. It included breakfast foods prepared by the College’s culinary arts students.
The class also traveled to Tate High School, where they toured the new agricultural building and met with Keith Leonard, ECSD Superintendent, and other district personnel.
After lunch, the class returned to PSC and toured the Bear Jones Moore and Reeves Center. An after-hours event, sponsored by George Stone Technical College, was held on the PSC Sky Terrace.
Members of the Class of 2024 are AJ Powell, Santa Rosa Island Authority; Alex Steelman, Rebol-Battle and Associates; Alyvia Waite, Baskerville-Donovan; Amanda Wood, United Service Organizations, Florida; Andrew Sowell, Landrum HR; Betsy McDonald, Pensacola Habitat for Humanity; Bradley Larsen, Navy Federal Credit Union; Bridget Arnold, HCA Florida West Hospital; Carol Van Dresar, TVTC Safety Training Centers; Chelsea Weaver, PSC; Christopher Klotz, Stevenson Klotz Law Firm; Carnell Dancy, Humana; Danielle Woods, Navy Federal Credit Union; Darra Flanagan, Step One Automotive Group; Emily Echevarria, Council of Aging of West Florida; Heather Dammeyer, Postcard Realty Inc and Postcard Properties Florida; Jacob Wilson, Escambia County Board of County Commission; Jeff Brooks, Morgan Stanley; Jeremy Small, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; John Terhaar, Emmanuel Sheppard and Condon; Johnny Crane, Thee Bluffline; Josh Brown, Booze Allen Hamilton; Joy Sharp, Baptist Health Care; Justin Oswald, Transformation Church; Kate Andrews, Titanium Wireless; Katie Gardocki, Pensacola Sports; Kayla Stanley, UWF Alumni Relations; Kelsy Powell, City of Pensacola; Kevin Christman, Pensacola Police Department; Kevin King, ADX Communications; Kia Goldsmith, Clark Partington Attorneys at Law; Kim Worley, Florida Blue; Kristy Craig, ReadyKids!; Laura Gillam, United Way of Florida; Lindsey Walk, UWF; Madrina Ciano, Krewe of SWAT; Mady Scott, CAN Community Health; Maggie Vlass, Ascension Sacred Heart; Mallory Wilson, Pen Air Credit Union; Mark Vanderhaden, Pen Air Credit Union; Matt Meiilstrup, Pensacola Pilots; Matthew Horne, HDR; Meg Peltier, Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce; Melissa Branton, Manna; Michael Ann Riley, Wharton-Smith Inc.; Michelle Sanchez, Navy Federal Credit Union; Mike White, Torgersen Causey; Natasha Howard, Community Health NW Florida; Sarah Gatewood, Florida Power and Light Company; Scott Hohn, Perdido Bay United Methodist Church; Scott Taylor, International Paper; Wandy Samuel, VISIT Pensacola; and Warren Sonnen, O’Riley’s Irish Pub.
The LEAP Pensacola Education Day Chairs were Stanfill, Austin Courson, Amanda Hindsman, Craig Hindsman, Bobby King, and Mikenzie Francis-Opperman.